Report: Int'l Powers Leaning towards Central Bank Governor's Election as Centrist President
International powers have kicked off their efforts to ensure the election of a president for Lebanon, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Anba on Sunday.
It said that they are leaning towards the election of centrist figure, namely Central Bank Governor Riyad Salameh.
Their efforts are taking place with the cooperation of some local authorities, added the daily without elaborating.
International powers have also highlighted Salameh's experience in the economic field as an important factor in his potential election.
Lebanon staged on Wednesday the first round of the presidential elections, but neither of the candidates, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and Democratic Gathering MP Henri Helou, garnered the needed 86 votes of lawmakers to win the polls.
The second round of the elections will be held on Wednesday with a candidate needing 65 votes in order to emerge victorious.
President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ends on May 25 amid fears that the lack of consensus over a successor will lead to vacuum in the country's top post.
M.T.
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